8/04/2009 @ 5:00PM

In Depth: Best Cities For Working Mothers

No. 1: New York, N.Y.

Outdoor space is in surprising abundance in this crowded metropolis, with Central Park, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and the Gateway National Recreation Area–the U.S.’s first urban national park–offering loads of options for letting loose little ones. The city’s elite medical schools produce plenty of first-rate pediatricians, and its K-12 schools–both public and private–offer top programs, especially for the most gifted young students. Although unemployment is rising, with its relatively high income and educated population, New York is still the town for launching or cementing a successful career.